SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois voters may be receiving texts that contain false information about their polling places, according to a news release from the State Board of Elections.
Election officials said that, for the past few days, they had received numerous complaints of unsolicited texts from a group called "Voting Futures".
The text messages list the recipient's voting address, state that public records indicate that the recipient hasn't voted yet and then display a picture and address of a polling place. This information can often be incorrect.
In the case of one News 8 staff member that received a text, Voting Futures sent both the wrong current address and polling place. The text does indicate an awareness that the information may be incorrect or outdated.
Some may also receive a follow-up text from Voting Futures calling attention to mistakes and pointing voters toward accurate polling place information from the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
Officials remind voters that correct polling place information can be found by using the Polling Place Locator Tool on Board's website. The Board of Elections does not communicate with residents by text message or hire third parties to do so.
“We want Illinois voters to know that their election information should come only from trusted sources like the State Board of Elections or their local election authority,” Board of Elections Executive Director Bernadette Matthews said.
Voters who receive suspicious election-related text messages or emails or view social media posts that contain suspected election misinformation should forward screenshots and/or links to scamalert@elections.il.gov.
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